Bill Cosby was born on July
12th, 1937, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and for over thirty years,
he has been one of the world's most respected and well-known
entertainers and comedians. After tenth grade, Cosby joined the Navy
and completed high school through a correspondence course. He later
took up an athletics scholarship at Temple University, supporting
himself during his studies by tending bar, where his easy-going style
and witty joking with the clientele prompted suggestions that he try
stand-up comedy. This he did and was soon to be discovered by the
legendary Carl Reiner.
In his early twenties, he appeared on
many well-known variety programs including "The Ed Sullivan Show"
(1948). His big break came in 1965 when he appeared as Alexander
Scott in "I Spy" (1965), winning numerous Emmys for his
performance. He later appeared in "The Bill Cosby Show" (1969),
playing a teacher, although originally the show only lasted for two
years. He studied for many years during his career in the 1960s and
1970s, and he received a doctorate in Education from the University
of Massachusetts. During his early years he also made some comedy
albums that sold very well; his most notable comedy song being
"Little Old Man".
In 1984, "The Cosby Show"
commenced. The show was originally intended to follow a blue-collar
family, but finally ended up portraying a white-collar family. It was
originally rejected by ABC, accepted by a then-floundering NBC, and
was an almost instant success. From 1985 to 1987 the show broke
viewing records, with Cosby becoming perhaps the strongest driving
force in television during the eighties. He produced the TV series "A
Different World" (1987), set in an historically Black college and
concentrated on young people and education.
The Cosby Show
finally ended in 1992, with the final production considered to be one
of the highest-rated shows of the season and featured a pleading
Cosby asking for peace in riot-torn Los Angeles during the height of
the Rodney King riots. Since then he has produced films such as Men
of Honor (2000), and shows including "Little Bill"(1999).
His website: billcosby.com
